| Is Your Thyroid Healthy? Your Body Depends On It!
Tri-City Voice, February 6th, 2007
"There are an estimated 27
million people in the
U.S. with thyroid
problems,” says Dr. Prasad Katta, an
endocrinologist at
Washington
Hospital.
"That’s more than the number of people
with diabetes and cardiovascular disease
combined. Thyroid dysfunction, if left
untreated, can affect different systems
of the body, and can even be
life-threatening on occasion.
Effective treatments for thyroid
disorders are available, though.
Unfortunately, many people with thyroid
problems - perhaps as many as half of
them - have not been tested and
diagnosed.”
The 13th annual
Thyroid Awareness Month campaign was
recently observed to help educate people
about thyroid function and encourage
regular thyroid screenings. Sponsored by
the
American
Academy
of Clinical Endocrinologists and the
American Thyroid Association, the theme
of this year’s campaign is "How’s Your
Thyroid? Who Needs to Know.”
"The thyroid is a small endocrine
gland located at the front of the neck,”
Dr. Katta explains. "It secretes two
hormones - called T-3 and T-4 - that
contribute to the proper functioning of
various parts of the body. They are
particularly important in controlling
your body’s metabolism and converting
calories to energy. Thyroid problems
occur when the thyroid produces either
too little or too much of the hormones.”
Dr. Katta notes there are four main
categories of thyroid problems:
- Hypothyroidism - The thyroid
produces a low level of hormones,
resulting in a slowing down of many
body functions.
- Hyperthyroidism - The thyroid
produces excessive amounts of
hormones, which can speed up body
functions and cause other
uncomfortable and perhaps disabling
symptoms.
- Thyroid nodules - Small growths
on the thyroid gland that can have
some effects on thyroid function,
but are not usually cancerous.
- Thyroid cancer - Tumors on the
thyroid that can spread to other
parts of the body.
Hypothyroidism
"Hypothyroidism is more common
than hyperthyroidism,” Dr. Katta says.
"The symptoms of hypothyroidism are what
we call ‘nonspecific,’ because they can
be symptoms of various other diseases,
too. Some of the symptoms can include
fatigue, sore muscles, dry skin and
hair, fairly rapid and substantial
weight gain, constipation, heavy or
irregular menstrual periods,
forgetfulness and drowsiness.
"The causes of hypothyroidism can
vary,” he adds. "It could be the result
of treatment for hyperthyroidism, or it
may be caused by a condition called
‘thyroiditis,’ which is an inflammation
of the thyroid gland. Some medications
such as lithium or high doses of iodine
can cause hypothyroidism. There also is
a condition known as post-partum
hypothyroidism that occurs in some women
after childbirth. Most commonly,
though, there is no apparent reason for
hypothyroidism.”
Treatment for hypothyroidism
consists of hormone-replacement therapy
with thyroid hormone called Levothyrxoine. "At first, the patient’s
thyroid hormone levels will need to be
monitored frequently until a stable does
is achieved,” Dr. Katta says. "After
the hormone levels are stable, the
patient should be screened every six to
12 months.”
Hyperthyroidism
The four main causes of
hyperthyroidism, when there is an excess
of thyroid hormones, include:
- Graves’ disease, an autoimmune
disorder named after an Irish
physician,
- Goiter, a collection of multiple
nodules in the thyroid,
- A single nodule or lump in the
thyroid that is producing more
hormones than the body requires, and
- Thyroiditis, an enlargement and
inflammation of the thyroid gland
that releases large amounts of
thyroid hormones into the blood.
"Hyperthyroidism produces a
different set of symptoms from
hypothyroidism,” Dr. Katta notes. "You
might experience symptoms such as a fast
or irregular heart beat, nervousness or
irritability, rapid weight loss in spite
of a voracious appetite, night sweats,
inability to sleep, hair loss and
trembling hands or other body tremors.”
Hyperthyroidism may be treated
with radioactive iodine, in either pill
or liquid form. "The thyroid is the
only gland in the body that absorbs
iodine, which is found in some foods and
iodized salt,” Dr. Katta explains. "The
iodine is used to produce the T-3 and
T-4 hormones. Using radioactive iodine
kills a part of the gland, reducing the
amount of hormones produced. Some
patients treated with radioactive iodine
may subsequently become hypothyroid and
require hormone replacement.”
Other treatment options for
hyperthyroidism include medications such
as Tapazole and Propylthiouracil (PTU),
or surgical removal of the thyroid with
subsequent hormone replacement.
Thyroid Nodules
"Thyroid nodules are fairly
common,” Dr. Katta comments. "About
four percent of women and one percent of
men will develop them, and there is an
increased risk of developing nodules as
we age. There are not usually any
symptoms with thyroid nodules, unless
they develop into a goiter, which can
cause problems with breathing and
swallowing. The way nodules are usually
detected is when you notice a lump on
the throat. To rule out cancer, we
would do a fine-needle biopsy guided by
ultrasound. If cancer is ruled out, we
generally would just follow the
patient’s progress to make sure the
nodule is not growing. If the nodule is
causing hyperthyroidism, though, we
would use the same treatments as for
other causes of hyperthyroidism.”
Thyroid Cancer
"No cancer can be considered
‘good,’ but thyroid cancer is one of the
‘best’ cancers to have in terms of
successful treatments,” Dr. Katta
remarks. "Thyroid cancer is easily
curable if it is detected early and
hasn’t spread beyond the thyroid.
"We generally treat the cancer by
surgically removing the thyroid,” he
adds. "Because we can’t always remove
all of the thyroid gland, we also may
use radioactive iodine. Then we follow
up with hormone replacement, using a
higher dose than normal to suppress
thyroid growth and return of cancerous
cells. The patient should be screened
every three to four months for the first
year, and then every six months after
that to ensure the cancer has not
returned.”
Dr. Katta encourages all adults
to have regular thyroid function
screenings every year. "It’s a simple
blood test,” he notes, "but it can make
a tremendous difference in the quality
of your life.”
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